Dental implant device and correction device therefor

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a dental implant device. A fixture is provided with an abutment coupler at the upper portion of a commercialized fixture type. The abutment coupler has a female screw formed inside, and is formed at the lower portion with an implant screw. An abutment is formed at the lower portion with a first coupler and at the upper portion with a second coupler. The first coupler is coupled to the abutment coupler, and provided with a first sleeve resting groove on the outer circumferential surface of the second coupler. A solid screw is formed at the lower portion with a coupling screw and at the upper portion with a head. The head has a second sleeve resting groove formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof, in which sleeves formed inside an artificial tooth crown are press-fittingly coupled to the first and the second sleeve resting grooves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a dental implant device and acorrection device therefor. More specifically, the invention relates toa dental implant device, in which the sleeve of an artificial toothcrown is coupled to the sleeve resting grooves formed on the outercircumferential surfaces of an abutment and a solid screw, the abutmentand the solid screw coupled to a fixture implanted into an edentuloussite of a jawbone, so that a screw-loosening problem can be prevented.The invention also relates to a correction device used for the dentalimplant device, which allows the exact locations of the abutment and thesolid screw in an oral cavity to be transferred to a working model.

2. Background of the Related Art

In general, a dental implant is a substitute itself for a lost naturaltooth, or a dental operation, in which a screw shape fixture is securedto the jawbone and fused with the jawbone for a predetermined period oftime, and then an abutment, i.e. a coupling part, and a prosthesis suchas an artificial tooth crown are fixed to the fixture so as to restorethe original function of a tooth.

An example of the dental implant described above is “Dental ImplantStructure”, Korean Patent Application No. 2002-0027055, filed by thepresent inventor.

FIG. 1 shows a structure of a conventional dental implant.

As shown in FIG. 1, the dental implant comprises: a fixture 1 having ascrew coupling hole la formed at the inside thereof along the centralaxis thereof by a predetermined depth, the fixture being opened at theupper end thereof, and a threaded screw 1 b formed on the outercircumferential surface thereof; an abutment 2 coupled to the upper endof the fixture 1 and having a locking slit 2 a formed at the upperportion of the outer circumferential surface thereof; a screw 3 coupledto the screw coupling hole 1 a of the fixture 1 through the abutment 2and having a sleeve inserting groove 3 a formed at the upper portionthereof to be connected to the locking slit 2 a of the abutment 2; and alocking sleeve 4 or a general screw 3 b, the sleeve fitted into both thelocking slit 2 a of the abutment 2 and the sleeve inserting groove 3 aof the screw 3.

In addition, a coupling part 1 c of a polygonal shape is formed at theupper end of the fixture 1 and a corresponding recess part 2 b is formedat the lower end of the abutment 2, such that the coupling part 1 c andthe recess part 2 b are coupled to each other, thereby preventingrotation of the abutment 2 when the abutment 2 is coupled to the fixture1.

In addition, an artificial tooth crown coupled to the outside of theabutment 2 is set up through the following steps which are not describedin the conventional application.

FIGS. 2 to 6 show a conventional operation process of a dental implant.

First, the fixture 1 is implanted into an edentulous site of a jawboneand firmly coupled to the jawbone in 6 months or so if the jawbone is inthe upper jaw, whereas 4 months or so are required if it is in the lowerjaw. (refer to FIG. 2)

With the fixture 1 being firmly fixed as above, a dental analog 5 iscoupled to the fixture 1 and an impression 6 is taken. (refer to FIG. 3)

With the impression 6 being taken, a wrap analog 7 is coupled to thedental analog 5 which is embedded in the impression 6, and with asilicon 8 of a gum shape being coupled to the impression 6, a workingmodel 9 is formed by filling plaster. (refer to FIG. 4)

With the working model 9 being formed as above, the impression 6 isseparated, and the work is performed with the crown 10 being fixed tothe working model 9.

At this point, with the abutment and the screw being coupled to the wrapanalog 7 which is fitted into the working model 9, the crown 10 iscoupled. (refer to FIG. 5)

Then, with the abutment 2, the screw 3, and the locking sleeve 4 beingcoupled to the fixture 1 inside an oral cavity, the crown 10 is fixed tothe outside of the abutment 2. At this point, cement is used to bond theabutment 2 and the crown 10. (refer to FIG. 6)

However, a conventional implant structure has problems described below.

First, in a conventional operation procedure using a screw, the crown 10cannot be free from the screw-loosening problem.

Second, since the a thread of the conventional implant fixture 1 isconnected to an inner screw, due to the mechanical tolerance between thethread of the fixture 1 and the dental analog 5, the tolerance madeduring the process of transferring to the working model 9, the crown 10manufactured at the working model 9 does not fit inside the oral cavity.

Third, conventionally, since the abutment 2 and the crown 10 are bondedby cement, when the screw comes loose, the crown 10 must be broken totighten the screw again, and, furthermore, the screw-loosening problemoccurs again.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the aboveproblems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a dental implant device, in which the sleeve of anartificial tooth crown is coupled to the sleeve resting grooves formedon the outer circumferential surfaces of an abutment and a solid screw,the abutment and the solid screw coupled to a fixture implanted into anedentulous site of a jawbone, so that a screw-loosening problem can beprevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide a correction device usedfor the dental implant device, which allows the exact locations of theabutment and the solid screw inside an oral cavity to be transferred toa working model.

A further object of the invention is to provide a correction device usedfor the dental implant device, in which the solid head type screw andthe abutment are assembled together with a dental analog body and themale screw of the solid screw is coupled to the female screw of ananalog screw, thereby removing the rotational tolerance of the screw.

To accomplish the above objects, according to the present invention,there is provided a dental implant device. The device comprises: afixture provided with an abutment coupler at the upper portion of acommercialized fixture type, the abutment coupler having a female screwformed inside, and formed at the lower portion with an implant screwinserted into the edentulous site of a jawbone; an abutment formed atthe lower portion with a first coupler and at the upper portion with asecond coupler, the first coupler being coupled to the abutment coupler,and provided with a first sleeve resting groove on the outercircumferential surface of the second coupler; and a solid screw formedat the lower portion with a coupling screw and at the upper portion witha head, the coupling screw passing through the abutment and coupled tothe female screw of the fixture, the head having a second sleeve restinggroove formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof tofluid-communicate with the first sleeve resting groove, in which sleevesformed inside an artificial tooth crown are press-fittingly coupled tothe first and the second sleeve resting grooves.

In addition, the first and the second sleeve resting grooves are formedin at least two or more pieces.

In addition, the abutment coupler of the fixture and the correspondingfirst coupler of the abutment is formed in any one of rectangular,hexagonal and octagonal shapes.

In addition, an intermediate step is formed between the head andcoupling screw of the solid screw so as to be tightly coupled to anotherstep formed inside the second coupler of the abutment.

In addition, the height and/or width of the first and the second sleeveresting grooves are formed differently in size.

In addition, there is provided a correction device used for the dentalimplant device, the device comprising: a jig formed at the center of theupper portion with a receiving hole having a sleeve on the innercircumferential surface; a solid screw having a head and a couplingscrew and being transferred to the receiving hole, the head formed witha second sleeve resting groove corresponding to the sleeve of thereceiving hole, the coupling screw integrally formed at the other sideof the head; an abutment penetratingly coupled to the coupling screw ofthe solid screw and formed with a first sleeve resting groove on theouter circumferential surface, the groove corresponding to the sleeve ofthe receiving hole; a dental analog body formed at the end portion witha coupler coupled to the abutment and at the center with a pass-throughhole; and an analog screw formed at the inside with a female screwcoupled to the dental analog body and the coupling screw of the solidscrew at the same time.

In addition, the coupler of the analog body is formed in any one ofrectangular, hexagonal and octagonal shapes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be apparent from the following detailed description ofthe preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a structure of a conventional dental implant;

FIG. 2 shows an operation process of the conventional dental implant, inwhich a fixture fixed to a jawbone is shown;

FIG. 3 shows the process of taking an impression in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows the step of forming a working model by filling plaster inFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows the step of processing an artificial tooth crown at theworking model of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a step of coupling the crown processed in FIG. 5 to thefixture in the oral cavity;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a dental implant according tothe present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled dental implantaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is the dental implant viewed from above according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a correction device used forthe dental implant device according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled correction device usedfor the dental implant device according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 shows an operation process of the dental implant according tothe invention, in which a fixture fixed to a jawbone is shown;

FIG. 13 shows the fixture coupled to an abutment and a solid screw inFIG. 12;

FIG. 14 shows an impression in FIG. 13 coupled with a cap;

FIG. 15 shows the process of taking the impression in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 shows the impression separated from the oral cavity, which istaken in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 shows the abutment and the solid screw coupled to the fixture ofFIG. 13 being separated from the fixture and combined to the correctiondevice;

FIG. 18 shows the correction device corrected in FIG. 17 being coupledto the impression cap of FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 shows the step of forming a working model by filling plaster inFIG. 18;

FIG. 20 shows the working model separated from the impression in FIG.19;

FIG. 21 shows the step of forming an artificial tooth crown at theworking model of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 shows the abutment and the solid screw on the working model inFIG. 20 being coupled to the fixture in the oral cavity; and

FIG. 23 shows the abutment of FIG. 22 covered with the crown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiments of the invention will be hereafter describedin detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Hereafter, theoperation for a damaged tooth in the lower jaw is explained as anexample. However, it is not to be restricted by the example but can beapplied to the upper jaw and to the case where a plurality of teeth isdamaged.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show a dental implant device according to the invention.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the dental implant device 100 of the inventioncomprises a fixture 10, an abutment 20, and a solid screw 30.

The fixture 10 is provided with an abutment coupler 11 at the upperportion, the abutment coupler 11 having a female screw 12 formed inside,and formed at the lower portion with an implant screw 13 inserted intothe edentulous site of a jawbone.

The abutment 20 is formed at the lower portion with a first coupler 21and at the upper portion with a second coupler 22, the first coupler 21being coupled to the abutment coupler 11, and provided with a firstsleeve resting groove 22 a on the outer circumferential surface of thesecond coupler 22.

In addition, the abutment coupler 11 of the fixture 10 and thecorresponding first coupler 21 of the abutment 20 can be formed in anyone of rectangular, hexagonal and octagonal shapes. A hexagonal shape ismost preferable in order for a coupling tool to be used easily.

The solid screw 30 is formed at the lower portion with a coupling screw31 and at the upper portion with a head 32. The coupling screw 31 passesthrough the abutment 20 and is coupled to the female screw 12 of thefixture 10, and the head 32 has a second sleeve resting groove 32 aformed on the outer circumferential surface thereof to fluid-communicatewith the first sleeve resting groove 22 a.

In addition, an intermediate step 33 is formed between the head 32 andcoupling screw 31 of the solid screw 30 so as to be tightly coupled toanother step formed inside the second coupler 22 of the abutment 20.

In addition, sleeves formed inside an artificial tooth crown 40 arepress-fittingly coupled to the first and the second sleeve restinggrooves 22 a 32 a.

In addition, the first and the second sleeve resting grooves 22 a 32 aare formed in at least two or more pieces, preferably formed in twopieces at both sides symmetrically.

In addition, the height h and/or width w of the first and the secondsleeve resting grooves 22 a 32 a are formed differently in size so thatexact location can be found in the process of transfer described below.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a correction device used for the dental implantdevice according to the invention.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the correction device 200 used for thedental implant device comprises a jig 210, a solid screw 30, an abutment20, a dental analog body 220, and an analog screw 230. For theconvenience of explanation, the solid screw 30, the abutment 20, thedental analog body 220, and the analog screw 230 are integrally formedin one set, the set being referred to as an assembly A.

The jig 210 is formed at the center of the upper portion with areceiving hole 211, and a sleeve 211 a is formed on the innercircumferential surface of the receiving hole 211.

Also, the sleeve 211 a formed on the inner circumferential surface ofthe jig 210 corresponds to the first and the second sleeve restinggrooves 22 a 32 a of the abutment 20 and the solid screw 30.

The solid screw 30 and the abutment 20 coupled to the fixture 10 areseparated and coupled to the jig 210. The solid screw 30 having a head32 and a coupling screw 31 is transferred to the receiving hole 211, thehead 32 formed with the second sleeve resting groove 32 a correspondingto the sleeve 211 a of the receiving hole 211, the coupling screw 31integrally formed at the other side of the head 32. The abutment 20 ispenetratingly coupled to the coupling screw 31 of the solid screw 30 andformed with a first sleeve resting groove 22 a on the outercircumferential surface, the groove corresponding to the sleeve 211 a ofthe receiving hole 211.

The dental analog body 220 is formed at the end portion with a coupler221 coupled to the abutment 20 and at the center with a pass-throughhole.

In addition, the coupler 221 of the analog body 220 is formed in any oneof rectangular, hexagonal and octagonal shapes. A hexagonal shape ismost preferable in order to enhance the convenience of coupling.

The analog screw 230 is formed at one side with a female screw 231, thefemale screw coupled to the dental analog body 220 and the couplingscrew 31 of the solid screw 30 at the same time.

That is, the female screw 231 of the analog screw 230 is fixed to thecoupling screw 31 of the solid screw 30, and a correct transfer can beaccomplished by the coupler 221 of the dental analog body 220 withouthaving tolerance.

Hereafter, the process of an implant operation will be explained usingthe dental implant device and the correction device used thereofaccording to the invention.

Step 1: implanting fixture (refer to FIG. 12).

In this step, the fixture 10 is implanted into an edentulous site of ajawbone, and the implant screw 13 of the fixture 10 is firmly coupled tothe jawbone in 6 months or so if the jawbone is in the upper jaw,whereas 4 months or so are required if it is in the lower jaw.

Step 2: coupling the abutment and the solid screw (refer to FIG. 13).

In this step, the abutment 20 is coupled to the abutment coupler 11 ofthe fixture 10 fixed to the jawbone, and the solid screw 30 passesthrough the abutment 20 and is fixed to the female screw 12 of thefixture 10.

At this point, the first and the second sleeve resting grooves 22 a, 32a of the abutment 20 and the solid screw 30 are fixed to the fixture 10in a communicated form.

Step 3: inserting the impression cap (refer to FIG. 14).

In this step, the impression cap 320 is inserted onto the upper portionsof the abutment 20 and the solid screw 30, and the location of the crownis decided.

Step 4: taking the impression (refer to FIGS. 15 and 16).

In this step, impression material is put on the impression tray (notshown) inside the oral cavity in which the impression cap 320 iscoupled, and the impression 300 is taken, thereby obtaining theimpression 300 so as to decide the locations of the abutment 20 and thesolid screw 30 in the working model 310.

Step 5: coupling the correction device which removes the rotationaltolerance of the screw (refer to FIG. 17).

In this step, the abutment 20 and the solid screw 30 are separated fromthe fixture 10 fixed to the jawbone, and the dental analog body 220 andthe analog screw 230 are assembled one after another. Then, the firstand the second sleeve resting groves 22 a, 32 a of the abutment 20 andthe solid screw 30 are coupled to the sleeve 211 a formed at thereceiving hole 211 of the jig 210.

At this point, with the coupler 221 of the dental analog body 220 beingcoupled to the abutment 20, the female screw 231 of the analog screw 230is fixed to the coupling screw 31 of the solid screw 30, and the firstand the second sleeve resting grooves 22 a, 32 a of the abutment 20 andthe solid screw 30 are communicated, thereby removing the rotationaltolerance.

Step 6: coupling the assembly of the correction device to the inside theimpression cap of the impression (refer to FIG. 18).

In this step, the assembly A is separated from the jig 210 of thecorrection device and coupled to the impression cap 320 embedded in theimpression 300.

At this point, the first and the second sleeve resting grooves 22 a, 32a of the abutment 20 and the solid screw 30 in the assembly A arecoupled to the sleeve 321 of the impression cap 320.

Step 7: forming the working model (refer to FIGS. 19 and 20).

In this step, forming material 310 a and plaster 310 b are filled in theassembly A fixed to the impression cap 320 and then hardened, and theimpression 300 is removed, thereby forming the working model 310.

That is, the working model 310 is formed of the same structure as theinside of the oral cavity.

Step 8: forming the crown (refer to FIG. 21).

In this step, the crown 40 is coupled to the abutment 20 and the solidscrew 30 which are on the working model 310, and the forming process isperformed.

In addition, the inner sleeve 41 of the crown 40 is coupled to the firstand the second sleeve resting grooves 22 a, 32 a of the abutment 20 andthe solid screw 30.

Step 9: re-coupling the abutment and the solid screw to the fixture(refer to FIG. 22).

In this step, after separating the manufactured crown 40 from theworking model 310, the abutment 20 and the solid screw 30 fixed to theworking model 310 are separated and re-coupled to the fixture 10implanted into the jawbone inside the oral cavity.

Step 10: setting up the crown inside the oral cavity (refer to FIG. 23).

In this step, the crown 40 formed at the working model 310 is coupled tofixture 10 fixed to the abutment 20 and the solid screw 30 inside theoral cavity.

In addition, the sleeve 41 of the crown 40 is coupled to the first andthe second sleeve resting grooves 22 a, 32 a of the abutment 20 and thesolid screw 30.

That is, the crown 40 is accurately formed at the working model 310 andcoupled inside the oral cavity, so that cement and the like is notrequired.

As described above in detail, in the dental implant device according tothe invention, the sleeve of the crown is coupled to the sleeve restinggrooves formed on the outer circumferential surfaces of the abutment andthe solid screw, the abutment and the solid screw coupled to the fixtureimplanted into an edentulous site of a jawbone, so that ascrew-loosening problem can be prevented.

In addition, due to the accuracy of the work, the crown can be mountedinside the oral cavity without using cement. It is simple to separatewhen removing the crown, therefore the maintenance becomes easy.

In addition, in the correction device used for the dental implant deviceof the invention, the exact location of the abutment and the solid screwinside the oral cavity can be transferred to the working model.

In addition, in the correction device used for the dental implant deviceof the invention, the dental analog body is assembled with the abutment,and then the coupling screw of the solid screw is coupled to the femalescrew of the analog screw, thereby removing the rotational tolerance ofthe screw.

While the present invention has been described with reference to theparticular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by theembodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciatedthat those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodimentswithout departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

1. A dental implant device comprising: a fixture provided with anabutment coupler at the upper portion of a commercialized fixture type,the abutment coupler having a female screw formed inside, and formed atthe lower portion with an implant screw inserted into the edentuloussite of a jawbone; an abutment formed at the lower portion with a firstcoupler and at the upper portion with a second coupler, the firstcoupler being coupled to the abutment coupler, and provided with a firstsleeve resting groove on the outer circumferential surface of the secondcoupler; and a solid screw formed at the lower portion with a couplingscrew and at the upper portion with a head, the coupling screw passingthrough the abutment and coupled to the female screw of the fixture, thehead having a second sleeve resting groove formed on the outercircumferential surface thereof to fluid-communicate with the firstsleeve resting groove, wherein sleeves formed inside an artificial toothcrown are press-fittingly coupled to the first and the second sleeveresting grooves.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the firstand the second sleeve resting grooves are formed in at least two or morepieces.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the abutment couplerof the fixture and the corresponding first coupler of the abutment isformed in any one of rectangular, hexagonal and octagonal shapes.
 4. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein an intermediate step is formedbetween the head and coupling screw of the solid screw so as to betightly coupled to another step formed inside the second coupler of theabutment.
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the height hand/or width w of the first and the second sleeve resting grooves areformed differently in size.
 6. A correction device used for the dentalimplant device, the device comprising: a jig formed at the center of theupper portion with a receiving hole having a sleeve on the innercircumferential surface; a solid screw having a head and a couplingscrew and being transferred to the receiving hole, the head formed witha second sleeve resting groove corresponding to the sleeve of thereceiving hole, the coupling screw integrally formed at the other sideof the head; an abutment penetratingly coupled to the coupling screw ofthe solid screw and formed with a first sleeve resting groove on theouter circumferential surface, the groove corresponding to the sleeve ofthe receiving hole; a dental analog body formed at the end portion witha coupler coupled to the abutment and at the center with a pass-throughhole; and an analog screw formed at the inside with a female screwcoupled to the dental analog body and the coupling screw of the solidscrew at the same time.
 7. The device according to claim 6, wherein thecoupler of the analog body is formed in any one of rectangular,hexagonal and octagonal shapes.